Top West hotelier acquires country house hotel to herald the launch of new brand

Leading West hotelier Tudor Hopkins has acquired Stanton Manor to become the first property in his newly-launched hotel brand.

Tudor and Lucy Hopkins have taken over the historic 23-bedroom hotel near Chippenham to kickstart the new Sleeping Bears brand, for which they hope to create a portfolio of 10-12 hotels in and around Wiltshire and Somerset.

Stanton Manor was sold off the asking price of £1.95m and went on the market due to its current owner’s ill health. The hotel’s trade is said to be mostly commercial, with weddings and parties fuelling trade over the weekends.

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Peter Brunt, hotels director at Colliers International said there also was potential to utilise the lapsed planning permission to develop a detached conference building on site.

Hopkins, who specialises in the refurbishment and relaunch of hotels, has spent the last five years establishing himself in the industry in the South West, with a portfolio that includes the Moonraker Hotel in Trowbridge and The White Hart in Wells.

He commented: “Lucy and I plan to bring The Stanton Manor back to life, and have employed an award-winning design company to transform the public areas and breathe life back in to the business.”